Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/124

 68' suRveY oF ?.� observed to follow'us armed with spears, buttrey did not shew themselves, Sie they probably perceived'We were prepared to receive them. Before dark,the Canoe was hoisted up to the  ste, and our other boats`were'secured under it'; notwithstanding which the natives swam' ot, and, when every' thing'was quiet, cut, the whale boat's moorings, Without .being detected, and swam away with her' in tow; it was, however, discovered in time, and the boat' recovered before" the tide had drifted her out of, sight. Early the next morning the cutter was removed earer to the watering-place that Boongaree had' found, and in  doing this We Were watched by' ten or twelve natives who were standing as' they thought concealed among' the trees. This aForded us- so good an opportunity of expressing Our anger at their attempt to steal our boat, and of shewing them that we were not Malays, that we fired a shot From a six-pounder carronade over their heads', the report of which for a moment scare them; but their alarm Was only momentary, fo they Soon afterwards recovered from their fright and continued to watch us as before As soon as the vessel was secured, our waterin party commenced their operations, and had beeri employed for half an hour without intrruptlon{ When the natives Suddenly appeared on. th brin{

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